Method of printing newspapers or pamphlets



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. L. FIRM. METHOD OF PRINTING NEWSPAPERS 0R PA-MPHLETS. No. 399,659. Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

.Zizverzior (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheefn 2.

J. L. FIRM.

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JOSEPH L. FIRM, OF JERSEY CITY, NEWV JERSEY.

METHOD OF PRINTING NEWSPAPERS OR PAiViPHLETS.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,659, dated March 19, 1889.

Application filed May 28, 1888.

10 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH L. FIRM, of erfully understood from the following description.

In carrying out my invention many of the parts of the press are used as heretofore, and it will therefore only be necessary for me to describe and show suflicient of the operative parts of my press to point out the new fea tures, so that a man skilled in the art may practice the invention.

Figure 1 shows in elevation the essential workingparts of the machine. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of the forms on the form-cylinders. Fig. l shows the tension-rollers in detail. Figs. 5 to 11, inclusive, are the surfaces of the various form-cylinders developed to show the arrangement of forms on them. Fig. 12 is a detail side view, partly in section, of the rollers for splitting the paper. Fig. 13 is an end view of the same- Figs. 14 and 15 are a side view and end sectional view of cylinderT and its grippers. Figs. 16 to 21., inclusive, show the paper in its various stages of treatment.

I will first describe the manipulation of the paper and subsequently the apparatus by which it is manipulated, though the apparatus is not claimed in this application.

Suppose we are to print two copies of a sixteen-page paper. Two webs will be printed, as indicated in Fig. 16, and will be run out over each other, so that the margins correspond.

It will be observed that the pages on one side of the longitudinal margin g belong to a different but corresponding newspaper from those on the opposite side, while every succeeding two transverse rows of pages belong to the same newspaper, those, for instance, between ,2 and .2 belonging to the same newssenate. 275,265. on model.)

paper as those between 2 and 2 Next the webs will be split longitudinally on the margin y 3 next severed transversely on the margins .2' e e Then the cut 2 .2" will be superposed over the cut preceding it, and the cut .2 .2 over the cut .2 .2 Line. The cuts from one longitudinal half of the split web thus superposed are shown in Fig. 17 all the margin on coinciding. Subsequently the whole will be folded together on the margin x, as indicated in Fig. 18.

If we are to print two copies of a twentyfour-page paper, three webs will be printed, as shown in Fig. 19, and run out over each other, so that the margins coincide. flhey are then split and severed as before and each two outs superposed on one another, as shown in Fig. 20, so that when folded 011 the margin the pages will be arranged properly in book form, as shown in Fig. 21.

\Vithout further illustrating the manipulation of the paper, it will be noticed that a plurality of webs are employed andtwo rows of pages belonging to the same newspaper succeed each other longitudinally on the same web, and that the webs are brought over each other and severed transversely, and then the second row of pages is superposed over the first row, the fourth row over the third row, and so on, the motion always being in the line of travel of the web and no lateral folding or turning being required to get the pages in the proper relative position.

The number of webs employed will be varied in accordance with the number of pages to be provided for. The manipulation of them may always be the same, whatever'the number. Thus, if more than twenty-four pages are to be printed, an additional web or webs will be necessary, and if less than sixteen pages are required the webs maybe reduced. Since, however, the treatment remains the same, the two examples already described will be suiheient to explain the method.

a l) 0 cl cf are the form-cylinders. g h @lj 7t- Z are the impression-cylinders. Eachof these form-cylinders is adjustable with reference to the impression-cylinder next to it. 011 each of the form-cylinders are arranged places for eight forms. Each form occupies nearly a semi-circumference, and four forms are arranged side by side on each semi-circumference. Thus the relative position which the eight forms will occupy on the form-cylinder is shown in Fig. 3, where they are arranged for printing pages 2 and 3 of a pamphlet, so that each turn of the cylinder will print pages 2 and 3 for four pamphlets, as shown, for cylinder a in Fig. 5.

The number of form-cylinders which I have shown is sufficient for printing two copies of a twenty-four-page newspaper or pamphlet,

I but by allowing certain of the cylinders to remain idle or altering the arrangement of the forms on the cylinders, newspapers or pamphlets having a less number of pages may be printed, as I will now proceed to show.

For printing eight copies of a four-page paperor pamphlet the following arrangement of cylinders is to be employed: The web m runs between form-cylinder a and impressioncylinder j, thence between form-cylinder c and impression cylinder 0 The web n runs between form-cylinder a and impression-cylinder g, adjusted to be in contact with said cylinder a, and thence between form-cylinder b and impression-cylinder h. The development of the surface of cylinder a in Fig. 5 will show the arrangement of the forms for the different pages on that cylinder, and the same is true of cylinders 12 and c, which are arranged alike. It will be understood that webs n and m are each of sufficient width to take four pages abreast.

For printing four copies of a six-page paper the following arrangement is to be employed: The webs pass as before, but the impressioncylinder g, in stead of pressing theweb n against the form-cylinder a, is adjusted so as to press it against form-cylinder f,thus causing the cylinder a to print only on one web and bringing cylinder f into use. The arrangement of page-forms on the different cylinders is shown in Fig. 6. It will be observed that on cylinders band f the end forms are omitted, the spaces for them on the cylinders being left blank. The web n is here reduced in Width one half, as shown in Fig. 17, so as to cover only the forms next the middle of the cylinders 19 and f.

For printing four copies of an eight-page paper the following arrangement of cylinders is to be employed: The webs pass as in printing four copies of a six-page paper and the same cylinders are employed. The web at, however, is here of full width, like the web m, so as to be wide enough to receive the impress of four pages abreast. The arrangement of forms upon the cylinders is shown in Fig. 7.

For printing four copies of a ten-page paper the cylinders are arranged as follows: Here an additional web, 0, is employed which runs between form-cylinder e and impressioncylinder 1, and thence between form-cylinder d and impression-cylinder 7c. The webs 'm and n run between the same cylinders as for printing four copies of a six-page paper. The webs m and n are both of full width; but the web 0 is here of only half-width, so as to cover only the forms next to the middle line of cylinders d and e. The arrangement of the forms upon the cylinders is shown in Fig. 8.

It will be observed that here there are only four forms, each on form-cylinders d and e, the end form-spaces being left blank on each of these cylinders.

For printing four copies of a twelve-page paper the webs run the same as the last, excepting that here the web 0, like the webs m and 'n, is of full width. The arrangement of forms upon the cylinders is shown in Fig. 9.

For printing two copies of a sixteen-page paper the following arrangement is employed: Only the webs m andn are necessary, and they run as did the same webs in printing four copies of a six-page paper. The arrangement of forms upon the cylinders is shown in Fig. 10. It will be observed that here for the first time the forms of four different pages are upon each cylinder, whereas previously the forms of only two different pages were on each cylinder. In the present case, however, there are on each cylinder only two forms of a corresponding page, whereas previously there were on each cylinder four of a corresponding page.

For printing two copies of a twenty-four page paper the following arrangement is employed: Here the webs m, n, and 0 are all employed of full width and run as described for printing four copies of a twelve-page paper. The arrangement of the forms on the cylinders is shown in Fig. 11.

Having by the arrangement of the form and impression rollers above described printed two or three webs, as the case may be, on both sides in a manner to be determined by the number of pages which the paper is to contain, I next proceed to gather the webs to gether, separate them into sheets belonging to the several papers, and, having arranged the sheets in their proper order, to fold them. The webs m, n, and o are brought from the last impression-rollers to the several cuttingrollers 19, q, and r. A front view of one of these pair of cutting-rollers is shown in Fig. 12 and an end View in Fig. 13, from which it will be seen that extending around the circumference of one of them in the middle is a circular knife, 19*, which entersaslight groove extending around the circumference of the opposite roller in the middle. As the web passes between these rollers it is split longitudinally through the middle by this knife. The position at which this knife comes on the web corresponds with the middle of the formcylinders, so that the web is split on a margin, y, which is at the middle, thus leaving two pages'abreast on each side of the split. The position of these cutting-rollers may be made adjustable, if required. Having passed these cuttingrollers, the three webs are brought together with their corresponding margins coinciding between the rollers .5- and t, a front View of which is shown in Fig. 4. The roller 15 has its bearing in adjustable supports, so that it may be moved to and from the roller 8 by means of the screw t, moved by the hand-wheel t and the intermediate gearing. By the means described the rollers s t may be employed as tension-rollers to exert a greater or less amount of tension upon the webs, as required.

a and o are driven rollers, which exert upon the webs the pull required to draw them from the last impression-rollers. These rollers a and U also act as cutting rollers or cylinders, and for that purpose are provided with a severing or dividing knife similar to the cutting-cylinders in United States Patent to me, No. 374,355, dated December 6, 1887. This knife, also, like the knife described in said patent, is provided with alternating cutting and perforating teeth, so that the paper will be cut for a portion of the distance across the web and perforated for the other portion of the distance. The diameter of each of the cylinders u and l) is half that of the form and impression cylinders, so that the cut will be made across the webs in the margins z z, &c., Figs. 16 and 17,between the successive pages. The regulation of the tension upon the webs by means of the tension-rollers s twill be found very useful in securing the proper operation of the cutter between the rollers a and 1:. Furthermore, by arranging to split the webs before they are cut transversely the liability of wrinkling is reduced.

1 2 a are rollers about which pass the tapes 5 6. The webs, after being partly separated by the knife between a and '2), pass in between the tapes 5 and 6, and by them are carried forward toward the gripping-cylinder 7.

It is essential that before the webs shall reach the gripping-cylinder 7 they shall be completely severed along the margins .2 .2

r &c., and to that end I arrange the rollers 8 and 9 on either side of the path of the webs. These rollers 8 9 are formed so as to grip the webs between every two lines of severance (between margins ,2 51116 .2 for instance) and when the line of severance (as margin .2 has just passed from between the rollers 1 2. The rollers 8 and fl are driven slightly faster than the rollers 1. 2, so that as soon as they grip the webs they will cause the web to be torn asunder at the point of severance (on margin 2') which has just passed beyond the rollers 1 2. By this arrangement the webs are only partially severed until they have passed beyond the rollers 1 2, so that each section of the web which is partially severed from the preceding one is led by the connection .between it and the preceding one between the rollers 1 2; but as soon as its forward portion has been led between these rollers the action of the rollers 8 9 tears the preceding section from it, so that by the time the webs reach cylinder 7 the various sections or sheets are completely separated.

In case the newspaper being printed contains anything less than sixteen or twentyfour pages the cylinder 7, which is slightly over half the diameter of the form-cylinders, will revolve twice for every revolution of the form-cylinders. Its revolution is timed so that the grippers upon its surface will he in position to grip the forward end of each section of the web as it reaches the cylinder 7. As soon as the section of the webs is engaged by the grippers of cylinder 7 it is drawn around cylinder 7 and in turn caught by the grippers upon the gripping-cylinder 10. It will be observed that in this case only one set of grippers is employed on each cylinder. I11 fact, in this case grippers may be dispensed with altogether by passing tapes it around cylinders and 10 and a tape, n, around cylinders 7 and 11, so as to carry the sheets smoothly from one cylinder to the other. hen two papers of sixteen or twenty-four sheets each are printed, the operation of cylinder 7 has to be somewhat modified. In this case cylinder 7 is provided with two sets of nippers located about the same line of its cirference. The cylinder makes a complete revolution and part of another before any of the sheets are removed from it by cylinder 10. On the first revolution one set of its nippers operate to draw the three layers of paper then presented around the cylinder 7. On the second revolution the second set of nippers operate to draw the three succeeding layers of paper around the cylinder, the second three layers being led exactly over the first three; but as soon as the six layers are thus brought over each other upon cylinder 7 the nippers on cylinder 10 operate to remove all six layers from cylinder 7 and pass them around cylinder 10. Then cylinder 7, having been relieved of these sheets, is ready to repeat its operations upon others.

Enlarged side and end views of cylinder 7 and its two sets of grippers are shown in Figs. 14 and 15. w w w w are one set of grippers which are all mounted 011 the same oscillating rod, 10. At one end of this rod the pin 20 proj ects laterally therefrom.

w is a gear-wheel driven from the gearwheel w on the shaft of. cylinder 7. A pin, to, projects from the face of wheel. a which pin is so placed that as'the wheel to revolves the pin 11" will engage the pin 11? for a short distance, pressing the pin 1P2 around, and thus oscillating the rod '10 and operating the set of grippers 10w '1! 'u'. A spring, 706, is placed on the rod 20', which returns to its normal position as soon as the pin Wis released by W".

p p p p is another set of grippers on the oscillating rod p and operated similarly to the first set, but by the gear-wheels p and p, the pins and p and the spring 17 The position of the pins 11: and p on their respective cylinders are diametrically opposite.

The first three layers of paper that come along will. be gripped by the grippers w and held by them through one revolution and until the second three layers are gripped by the grippers p. The second three layers of paper that come along will be gripped by the grip- IIO pers 19' and held by them until all siX layers are brought to grippers g on cylinder 10, by which they are transferred to cylinder 10. To accomplish this, the wheels 13 11 are so geared that the grippers p will be alternately in position to grip and let go during the successive revolutions of cylinder 7. The wheels 10 w are geared so that the grippers 10 will only be in position to grip on alternate revolutions of cylinder 7 from the point at which the sheets are delivered to cylinder 7 to the point at which they are delivered to cylinder 10. This may be done in relation to grippers p by gearing so that the wheel p shall revolve once for every two revolutions of cylinder 7 and arranging pins p and 1) so that they will be engaged during one-half the revolution of wheel p". In reference to grippers w, the wheel 10 may be so geared as to revolve once for every two revolutions of cylinder 7, and the pins 10 10 may be so arranged as to engage only during so much of the revolution of wheel 10 as corresponds with the passage of the grippers w from the point where the sheets are received by cylinder 7 to the point where they are delivered to cylinder 10.

The series of grippers q are operated by mechanism similar to that already described for operating nippers w or p, or by any other of the well-known gripper-operating mechanisms. The operation of grippers q is, however, so timed that these grippers are ready to receive and grip the sheets of paper only upon every alternate revolution of the cylinder 7. Thus two successive cuts from the webs will accumulate one on top of the other upon the surface of cylinder 7 before any pass onto cylinder 10. This mode of operation is necessary in the case of a sixteen or twenty four page pamphlet or newspaper, because, as will be seen by an inspection of Figs. 10 and 11, the arrangement of forms upon the formcylinders is such that the pages belonging to a single paper or pamphlet are not all printed abreast, but are printed so that every two successive rows of pages upon each web belong to the same paper or pamphlet. Thus it is necessary after these rows have been separated transversely to retard the first row until the second row has overtaken and been placed upon it. This is accomplished by the operations of cylinders 7 and 10, as above described. NVhen the sheets pass onto cylinder 10, all of the pages belonging to the same newspaper or pamphlet will'occupy the proper relative positions.

The sheets, whether they be one or more, having been drawn around cylinder 10 bythe grippers thereon, are delivered by it to the gripping band or tape 12, constructed as described in my United States Letters Patent No. 176,401, April 18, 1876, which grippingband runs around cylinders 11 and 13.

14 15 16 17 are two pairs of folding-rollers, which are located beneath the position in which the sheets will be carried by the gripping-band 12. It will be observed that the sheets comprising two newspapers will come upon the gripping-band 12 abreast, having been split apart by the knifed rollers 19, q, and r. The folding-rollers 14; 15 are arranged beneath the middle margin of the sheets comprising one paper, and the folding-rollers 16 17 are arranged beneath the middle margin of the sheets comprising the other paper.

A folding-knife constructed as described in my United States Letters Patent No. 341,740 descends upon the middle margin of the sheets comprising one paper, so as to force them down between the rollers 14 15, and another knife of similar construction descends upon the middle margin of the sheets comprising the other paper and forces them down between the folding-rollers 16 and 17.

In the drawings I have shown the rollers 14, 15, 16, and 17 of sufficient length to fold the sheets comprising four papers simultaneously, the knives not descending until the sheets comprising four papers have been carried over the rollers. .After being folded by the rollers 14, 15, 16, and 17 the papers are caught by suitable bands and brought horizontally over the rollers 18, 19, 20 and 21, by which an additional and final fold at right angles with the first is given to each paper.

I make no claim on the folding mechanism, and extended description of it is unnecessary, since its construction is well known.

The apparatus herein described being claimed in a separate application, Serial No. 260,983, no claim is made to the same herein.

I claim- The improvement in the art of printing newspapers or pamphlets, which consists in printing on a plurality of webs, so that certain pages belonging to the same pamphlet succeed each other longitudinally on the same webi. (2., follow each other lengthwise of the weband bringing the said webs one over another, then severing said webs transversely between the succeeding pages, then superposing the successive cuts on said webs over one another, substantially as described, whereby the various pages may be assembled in proper order without turning or reversing.

JOSEPH L. FIRM.

Vitnesses:

D. H. DRisooLL. LIVINGSTON GIFFORD. 

